Picked this one up yesterday. One of my fave 80's movies, stylishly made, great soundtrack, great cast - stunning car chase.

But I take issue with Friedkins "commentary".

It's not a commentary, but an interview. This is borne out by the snippets of the same interview that are in the the making of doc.

Yes it may be ok (it's better than some of hos other actual commentaries), but I just wonder how they get away with advertising it as a commentary when it clearly isn't.

Noticed this on other movies too, notable the Bond movies, where some of the commentaries are just a collection of interview clips. Often they can be taken from interviews already on the disc, as in the Friedkin one - so essentially it's the same extra in another format.

Now, before someone says "What is your problem? If you like what he is saying what does it matter?", well it matters because when I hear the word "commentary", I think of the person doing the actual commentary live, sitting in front of a microphone watching the movie.

That's a commentary.

Now if companies are going to do these cut and paste jobs, and hybrid commentaries taken from existing sources - I think they should make it clear exac tly what they are, and where they have been taken from. Often you don't find out what the source of the commentary is until you actually listen to it.

I don't think it is asking a lot to ask DVD companies to be a little more forthcoming in their descriptions of these "commentaries".

And no, I don't think I am being picky - if people can post about missing inserts and forced trailers...

At first I was going to argue with you but then I realized that you do have a point, a commentary should stay true to what they originally started as, interviews should be presented as such. Thanks for the heads up as I was going to pick this up but at least I now know what Im getting.

Glad you agree, harosa.

Despite the commentary gripe, it's not a bad package.

Pic is good, but not great. Can look a little grainy at times. Sound is fine, the music comes over pretty well, quite powerful and punchy.

I know people will say that it's one of those horribly dated 80's synth soundtracks, but I still think it holds up pretty well (whatever happened to Wang Chung?).

The alternate ending is one of those studio compromise things - thank god it was never used. The other deleted scene is pretty good, though it's a pretty poor video copy.

Making of is good, most of the main cast are involved. 30 mins, could have been a little longer bit at least it does not outstay it's welcome.

Apart from that, just some trailers and stills - but I think it's a pretty decent package. Pic could have done with some remastering, but it's not terrible.

yeah i picked this up today and am anxious to give it a spin! I have never seen it before so I hope I am in for a treat!

Well, this won't be the first time I've been disappointed by a Friedkin commentary track ..... I endured his ramblings on Exorcist.

ditto that. I'll probably listen to the pseudo-commentary at work next week.

Each to his own but I happen to think that Friedkin's commentary track to The Exorcist was quite good - one of the better ones that I have listened to.

Either way, I don't see how they deserved to be considered ramblings. It's not like they weren't screen specific. It's not like he started talking about his favorite moments in college.

I particularly found his knowledge of the ancient sites they used in Iran and found it interesting that they got access to go to Iran when that was a hard thing to pull off.

He was also knowledgeable about the Georgetown area of Washington.

Sorry, didn't mean to ramble

Depends on which Exorcist disc you're talking about. The commentary on the 25th Anniversary DVD is pretty good, but the one on the Version You've Never Seen disc is terrible.

Finally got around to watching this disc yesterday and absolutely loved the movie. I had actually never seen it before and I am usually on top of all the 80s films.

It is quite dated for sure, but does not hold it up in the least. Excellent, excellent film.

I liked how in the making-of doc, Friedkin notes that not only does the movie revolve around the world of counterfeit money, but everybody within the movie is a counterfeit in some way, shape or form.

I actually listened to the "commentary", and loved Freidkin relating the story of the prop guy's kid stealing some of the fake notes made for the movie, and the FBI getting involved and virtually investigating Freidkin. Hilarious.

Just imagine it...

FBI, to the prop guy "So who told you to make these fake bills again?"

Prop guy " William Freidkin, the director."

FBI "Uh-huh. We'll be right back"

FBI's guys huddle in corner..."****in A! Looks like we have finally found that counterfeit kingpin we have been after for the last 5 years!"

Was listening to Friedkin's commentary today. Did he say to go watch Police Academy 6?

I thought it was pretty good, I think a lot of people on this site tend to nit pick way too much, I mean sure I might have preferred a more traditional commentary, but the one thats on the disc is in my opinion better than average

I like this commentary too - Friedkin gave a lot of interesting information. Just because it was not screen specific doesn't mean it's not well done. It sure beats some of the "describe the action" lame commentaries I've heard (like Richard Schickele's on Unforgiven or the one on Bergman's Persona and Hour of the Wolf - I haven't listened to the others in the Bergman set yet)

this is why I'm holding onto both versions in my video collection.

I don't exactly understand that, unless you're one of those weirdos who actually like "The Version You've Never Seen". The 25th Anniversary disc has a better cut of the movie, better supplements, and a better commentary. It's the only one I personally need.